The death rate among Mexican migrants in the United States has risen to a new level amid the coronavirus pandemic. But for undocumented migrants, the dilemma does not end on their death because their immigration status is still haunting them even after their last breath, according to The Washington Post.

Migrants from Mexico are repatriated to their home country for them to be buried. However, the expenses for the process are another challenge their family will have to face, on top of the difficulty they are facing amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mexican Migrants' Death in the U.S.

Most of the Mexican migrants who died due to COVID-19 are considered to be undocumented. The Washington Post pointed out that the death rate among the community surged up to 70 percent. Mexican migrants who died because of the coronavirus pandemic are labeled by the United States labor departments as "essential workers."

"These were people who, if they didn't work, they didn't get paid," said Mexican Consul Juan Sabines from Orlando. Sabines added that the earning is the driving force of these Mexican migrants to keep working. Unfortunately, they got sick while doing it.

Another factor for the death of Mexican migrants is their difficulty in signing up for their COVID immunization, primarily because pharmacies require IDs to make appointments. Others are afraid to go to vaccination sites because it might lead to their deportation.

But because most of the dead are considered undocumented, the Mexican diplomats are expected to send back the bodies to their home country. However, because some Mexicans grew tired of waiting for their government to help them, some of them initiated their own efforts to generate help. Others spearheaded fundraisers to collect the $4,000 amount usually needed to repatriate the bodies of their loved ones. Some even smuggled coffins across the borders themselves.

Migrants' Death in the Borders

However, apart from Mexicans who died in the U.S., migrants from the border are also losing their lives. 2020 was marked to be the deadliest year for the migrants unlawfully crossing into the U.S. Borders via Arizona, according to a report from The Guardian.

In the previous year, the Humane Borders have reported about 227 remains of migrants. The Guardian also noted that since 1998, about 7,000 are believed to have died in the U.S.-Mexico Border.

Unaccompanied migrant children are also affected in the borders. NPR noted that about at least five children died in custody or after being detained by the federal immigration agents at the border during the surge in 2018 and 2019.

A former senior official from the Department of Homeland and Security, David Lapan, noted that the difference in the present is that the current administration is focusing more on the condition and treatment of migrants in the facility.

Meanwhile, Mexico received 7,343 requests to send back the bodies of migrants in 2020. A significant increase of 68 percent on the request was evident on the 4,410 requests of repatriation in 2019.

WATCH: Mexico's confirmed Covid-19 deaths surpass 200,000, while experts worry toll is much worse - from FRANCE 24 English